505.2 Student Promotion - Retention - Acceleration

STUDENT PROMOTION - RETENTION - ACCELERATION

Students will be promoted to the next grade level at the end of each school year based on the student's achievement, age, maturity, emotional stability, and social adjustment.

The retention of a student will be determined based upon the judgment of the licensed employee and the principal.  When it becomes evident a student in grades kindergarten through eight may be retained in a grade level for an additional year, the parents will be informed.  It shall be within the sole discretion of the Board to retain students in their current grade level.

Students in grades nine through twelve will be informed of the required course work necessary to be promoted each year.  When it becomes evident a student in these grades will be unable to meet the minimum credit requirements for the year, the student and parents will be informed.  It shall be within the sole discretion of the Board to retain students in their current grade level and to deny promotion to a student.

Students in grades kindergarten through twelve with exceptional talents may, with the permission of the principal and parents, take classes beyond their current grade level.  Enrichment opportunities outside the school district may be allowed when they do not conflict with the school district's graduation requirements.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop the appropriate regulations.

 

Legal Reference:         Iowa Code §§ 256.11, .11A; 279.8; 280.3 (1995).

                                  281 I.A.C. 12.3(7); 12.5(16).

 

Cross Reference:        501  Student Attendance

                                  505  Student Scholastic Achievement

 

Approved:   4/14/97                   Revised:    11/99                     Reviewed:   05/16

 

505.2R Student Promotion-Retention-Acceleration Regulation

STUDENT PROMOTION - RETENTION - ACCELERATION

In general, students shall be placed at the grade level to which they are best adjusted academically, socially, and emotionally.  Normally, the educational program shall provide for the continuous progress of students from grade to grade, with students spending one year in each grade.

The philosophy of the Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District concerning retention is to be sensitive to individual student needs, to identify deficiencies early, to effect corrective actions, to enlist parental support, to help students and parents learn to be responsible and accountable, and to retain students only in appropriate instances.  The purpose of this policy is to ensure that steps are taken early to correct the students educational difficulties.

Retention should only be done when it will benefit the student.  If retention is to be done at all, it should be done early in the student’s educational career.

Consideration for retention should include, but not be limited to the following:

1. Instances where the student evidences below average maturity in the physical, emotional, and cognitive areas of development.

2. Instances where the student evidences below average acquisition of skills, attention span, and related time on task.  Cooperativeness in acceptance of and completion of task may also be considered.

3. Instances where the student evidences excessive absences from school.  The general health of the student should be considered in relation to the absenteeism.

4. Instances where there is parental support for the decision to retain the student.

Early promotion or skipping of a grade shall be considered in rare and extreme cases, and then only with the unanimous approval of the teacher, principal, superintendent, and parents.  Teachers are urged to utilize methods and materials of instruction which will broaden the interests and achievements of those students who are academically superior and use promotion of skipping grades only in an extraordinary situation.

In determining retention for students in grades K-8, the following guidelines shall be considered:

  • If at all possible, the student will be promoted with his/her age level class.
  • Different interventions shall be tried based upon a plan collaboratively designed by parents and school personnel.
  • Appropriate development curriculum will continually be reviewed, so that accelerated curriculum is not the cause of students being below grade expectations.
  • If curriculum adjustments and other interventions prove to be unsuccessful, then retention may be considered at the K-2 level.
  • Program adaption should be the norm for students having difficulty with the regular curriculum in grades 3-5.  As a last resort, retention may be considered.
  • Students in grades 6-8 should be monitored on a subject by subject basis.  Satisfactory progress should be determined before promotion is given for a particular subject area.  Again, adaptive curriculum plans should be developed that encourages continual progress for certain students.
  • Summer school should be an option for students to help their academic progress. 

At least thirty (30) days before the end of the school year, the principal shall notify the parents and the superintendent of the decision to retain a student.  Parents shall be notified of their rights of appeal.  When a retention occurs, a record of that recommendation and its reasons shall be included in the student’s folder.